Based on its academic success, BDL Elementary was named one of three Blue Ribbon Schools in North Dakota, sharing the honor with only about 200 schools in the nation.

“We have a lot of Laker pride, and so I think this award just boosts that Laker pride even more,” said Elementary Principal Kayla Andersen. “I also feel like our teachers are always striving to be better, so I think this even boosted it a little bit more. We just want to continue to get better for our kids.”

Visiting the school to present the award, Baesler was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of youngsters, eager to share what they feel makes their school great.

“I like how people respect each other” and “We treat each other with kindness,” students shared.

Jill Schramm/MDN Sixth graders Emma Shearer, left, and Anna Donamaria, right, give North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler a tour of Burlington Des Lacs Elementary School Friday, Oct. 10.

“I heard somebody say they were most proud of how much they improved, and I love to hear that, because even though you are a Blue Ribbon School, we can all improve every day,” Baesler said, “I know that Des Lacs Burlington will not rest on its laurels from receiving this. It will continue to find new ways to be better, to get better, to help every student so that all children are succeeding.”

She noted the effort that staff went through to document successes and compete for the Blue Ribbon award.

“This award that you are receiving today is a lot of work. It needs to demonstrate the culture and climate that you have demonstrated so clearly this morning, but it must also demonstrate that learning is at the heart of everything,” Baesler said.

Andersen said the school was nominated by the state and had the option to complete the paperwork for the award.

“Honestly, I think we have one of the best schools, So, of course, I wanted to follow through and fill out the paperwork no matter how much work it was,” she said. “”We have a lot of systems in place to make sure that no student is being left behind or falling through the cracks. We meet a lot as teacher teams and intervention teams to make sure that every student is getting what they need, whether it’s academic or social-emotional. Because if they’re not emotionally strong or emotionally positive, then they’re not going to do very well academically.”

Jill Schramm/MDN Sally Johnson with U.S. Sen. John Hoeven’s Minot office presented Burlington Des Lacs Elementary School with a flag flown over the nation’s Capitol in honor of its Blue Ribbon School status on Friday, Oct. 10. At left are school Superintendent Christopher Bachmeier, Johnson and student Charlotte Emerson. At right are, front from left, students Dexton Duchsherer and Marshall Schaefer, and, back from left, School Board President Brenda Buri and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler.

“It really is a big honor,” Sally Johnson with U.S. Sen. John Hoeven’s Minot office told the students before reading a letter of congratulations from the senator and presenting the school with a flag that had been flown over the nation’s Capitol.

A volunteer school choir also performed under the direction of music teacher Anthony Schreier.

Burlington-Des Lacs Elementary has about 415 students in grades prekindergarten through six, according to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Other Blue Ribbon Schools in North Dakota are Northern Cass Public School in Hunter and Schroeder Middle School in Grand Forks.